Please plan this month’s two-day trip, I requested my friend
‘Yes, but what about tomorrow’s holiday?’
Let’s go somewhere, work has been rough
‘Yes, tired of routine life…’
And that’s how the sudden plan to go, Lohgadh Fort, today emerged. A simple conversation that turned into a beautiful memory.
Four of us started around 4 am on a Sunday morning. We began early to avoid the Sunday crowd that flocks into Lohgadh, as it is easily accessible from Lonavla through road and rail both. Witnessing the dark transform to dawn during the drive was mesmerising.
We drove past Malavli station and reached a place where many cars were parked. I was going to Lohgadh for the first time and thought that’s where the ride ends, but I was wrong. My cousin, Sanish was sure we could drive till the base of the fort.
There was one steep rocky patch after which the road was smooth. We first decided to let go and started walking, but Sanish had other plans. He went back to our car, removed it out from where it was parked, and decided to give it a shot.
All car drivers around said it was impossible to get past the rocky patch but Sanish didn’t think so. The wheels slipped a tad bit while he removed the car from where it was parked but even that didn’t let him down. And zoom! Sanish drove the car past the patch.
I was scared when Sanish turned back and began walking to give it a try. I knew it was risky, one side of me wished to stop him but the other side wished for the best. I always believe one should believe their “gut feeling” and not what others say and hence I didn’t try hard to stop him.
When I was reaching to where Sanish had stopped the car and waited for us, I could see his bright smile from afar. I could see my brother shining there like a star who had zoomed past people’s thoughts and did what he believed in.
A lesson learned even before the trek began! What better start could I ask for?
As it was a sudden plan, we were only four. I have come to love and learn from each of my regular ten-twelve trek members. And hence, the missing began. But now, after years of trekking and travelling, I have also learned to be and live moments I am in over everything.
I walked with a new trek mate with whom I have had one trek in the last monsoon. Our love for SRK was an instant connection, but this time I found more. Right from the ride in the car, to the little breakfast time, she had managed to ask so many questions!
The connection chord strikes in me when I meet a curious soul. Her curiosity made me know more about the music we were listening to, the places we passed by as we drove and even the place we ate breakfast at.
We headed to the farthest spot Vinchu Kada the moment we reached the top. We decided to see the spots near the stairs on our way down. I saw the flag at Vinchu Kada afar and something in me wished to run towards it, I asked my new trek mate and we ran.
We ran halfway and then began walking-talking. I saw the rest two slow-walk behind us. Our conversational walk got accompanied by a new friend with paws. We both noticed that our new buddy was thirsty and fetching water. We found a small pool of water and guided the dog to it.
I felt satisfied looking at the dog quench its thirst. The doggo walked through our chitter-chatter all the way to the flag. The heat had made us three crash by the shade side of the flag post as soon as we reached.
Both of us were trying to gulp in the beauty of the place when something even special happened. Our four-legged friend got up and sat right in between us. I wonder why it did that, but it felt so good. We managed to capture this memorable moment.
Finally the two slow walkers or say the ones who didn’t run madly like us joined in. After clicking a few group photos we headed back. After exploring all the spots around the stairs we sat inside the Mosque.
It is the first thing visible once you reach the top of Lohagadh. Four of us sat inside for a while and sank in the serenity of the moment. Small conversations lead to a better understanding of the fort for us.
We walked down to the car real quick, perhaps because all of us almost ran down all the stairs to base. We ate some good lunch before we began our drive back. The ride was a hustle bustle of laughter back home with some sharing of the crazy playlists and cracking up over other moments of the day.
We almost gave up on all our playlists and switched to radio by the time we were reaching home. The second we reached and were picking up things to step out of the car a song played that gave my day the perfect end.
“musafir hoon yaaron, na ghar hai na thikana,
mujhe chalte jana hai, bas chalte jana hai…”
Indeed. A sudden trek day ended but I know I have a travel bug in me, I am a musafir, and my journey will never end.